Changes announced by PWGSC for SMEs procurements and real property transactions

Ottawa - Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters is posting the following announcement received from PWGSC regarding changes to the Integrity Framework introduced July 2012.

The Office of Small and Medium Enterprises (OSME) in PWGSC advocates on behalf of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in federal procurement. Through its network of six regional offices, OSME works to encourage participation of SMEs in federal government procurement by helping them understand how to sell to the government and by providing SMEs free information services.

We would like to inform you of upcoming changes to the Public Works and Government Services Canada (PWGSC) Integrity Framework that are being made to further strengthen the integrity of departmental procurement and real property transactions. These changes will take effect on March 1, 2014.

This announcement follows the introduction of the Integrity Framework in July 2012 and further improvements made in November 2012. Since implementing these measures, we have engaged with other government departments and agencies as well as key industry stakeholders. As a result, PWGSC is announcing the following changes to ensure that business continues to be conducted in an open, fair, transparent and accountable manner:

· Expansion of the list of offences that would render bidders and proponents ineligible to do business with PWGSC;

· Debarment of bidders and proponents who receive foreign convictions similar to the Canadian offences listed in the Integrity Framework;

· Expansion of debarment conditions to include guilty pleas with conditional or absolute discharge;

· Requirement for all contractors to extend the same terms and conditions to subcontractors; and

· Introduction of a 10 year-fixed debarment period.

These modifications apply only to procurements and real property transactions managed by PWGSC. These changes will be posted on our Buyandsell.gc.ca website and be in effect on March 1, 2014.

PWGSC is committed to monitoring on an ongoing basis its procurement and real property transactions to offer the highest standard of integrity, protect the interests of taxpayers, and ensure ethical behavior. Additional measures may be adopted as required. For further details, please consult the departmental Integrity Framework page at http://www.tpsgc-pwgsc.gc.ca/apropos-about/ci-if-eng.html.

The Office of Small and Medium Enterprises (OSME) in PWGSC advocates on behalf of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in federal procurement. Through its network of six regional offices, OSME works to encourage participation of SMEs in federal government procurement by helping them understand how to sell to the government and by providing SMEs free information services.

Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters (CME) is Canada’s largest trade and industry association, and the voice of manufacturing and global business in Canada.

The association represents more than 10,000 leading companies nationwide. As Canada's leading business network, CME – through various initiatives including the establishment of the Canadian Manufacturing Coalition – touches more than 100,000 companies from coast to coast, engaged in manufacturing, global business and service-related industries.

CME's membership network accounts for an estimated 82 per cent of Canadian manufacturing production and 90 per cent of goods and services exports.